Friars Stop Batsmen

The visiting Providence Friars upset the Harvard baseball team by rallying for three runs in the ninth to take a 6-3 win yesterday at Soldiers Field.

The loss dropped the Crimson's record to 7-3 (5-1 EIBL) while Providence improved its to 9-13.

The Friars scored their final three runs off of senior lefthander Chris Marchok (1-2), who had relieved Ed Toland in the eighth.

Providence centerfielder Steve Wright, who drove in all of the Friars' runs in the seventh with a three-run double, led off the inning with a single to right. Steve Castro followed with an identical single, and one out later, freshman catcher Brendon Walsh stroked a double to deep center to drive in the go-ahead run.

"Marchok came back with a good pitch down the middle," Walsh said of the 1-2 pitch. "It was just a reaction."

Providence got their final two runs off another double from pinch-hitter Tom Mezzanote, bringing home Walsh and Castro.

The Crimson tied the game and had a chance to go ahead in the eighth. First baseman Jim DePalo led off the inning by smacking a single to left and then stole second--his sixth stolen base in eight attempts this season.

Frank Morelli walked and freshman designated hitter Tom Konjoyan, who is now 4-for-13 this year, tied the game, 3-3, with an RBI single.

However, with men on first and third and only one out, the Crimson failed to score, which proved fatal in the ninth.

"We had the opportunity of going ahead," Coach Alex Nahigian said. "We got the timely hits Tuesday--we just didn't get them today."

Harvard's first two runs came from a fielder's choice in the first and a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. Providence rallied for three runs in the seventh off freshman pitcher Mike Dorrington.

Despite the loss, Crimson starter Bob Baxter pitched five scoreless innings before leaving the game. He gave up two hits and two walks, striking out six.

Baxter, a freshman lefthander, has not given up a run in the 19-1/3 innings he has pitched this season. In addition to his perfect ERA, he has struck out 20 batters, while giving up only eight hits and seven walks.

"He's getting better every game," Nahigian commented. "He has more and more confidence. Baxter has great location, which is unusual in a freshman. He's got a lot of composure on the mound."

Baxter sees his confidence growing as well. "Every time they get men on base, I don't believe they are going to score," he said.

In the third inning, the Friars had men on first and third with no outs, but Baxter mowed down the next three men to preserve his shutout. He also left men on the corners in the second inning.

In addition to his flair for strikeouts, Baxter likes to force the batters he faces into groundouts.

"I kept the ball low," he said. "They didn't hit a fly ball off me all day."